Outdoor Activities in Kathmandu

In a country as visually stunning as Nepal, surrounded by the Himalayan Mountain Range, it would be a shame to spend all your time cooped up indoors. If your idea of adventure involves communing with nature or exploring the great outdoors, you have several options in and around Kathmandu.

Trekking

Nepal is a trekker’s haven, with itineraries ranging from leisurely day hikes to two-week expeditions to one of Mount Everest’s base camps. A scenic option that falls somewhere in the middle is the three-day trek from Kathmandu to Nagarkot where you can watch the sun rise above several Himalayan Peaks, including Everest on a clear day. Porters and guides can typically be arranged on short notice.

Mountain Biking

If you really want to experience the rural areas of the Kathmandu Valley, mountain biking is a good way to do it. You can bike many of the same routes you can trek but in a fraction of the time. For the extremely intrepid traveler, you can spend two weeks biking all the way from Kathmandu to Lhasa, stopping to see temples and stupas, peaks and valleys along the way.

Mountaineering

Nepal is home to some of the highest and most challenging peaks in the world. Even if Everest is a little too ambitious -- or expensive -- for you, there are a few fun climbs right in the Kathmandu Valley, particularly in the Nagarjun Forest. If you need to polish up on your skills, you’ll find climbing gyms and climbing clinics based in Thamel.

White Water Rafting

Nepal’s steep snow-capped mountains make for some pretty thrilling rapids, some just outside of Kathmandu. One of the most classic routes begins three hours east of Kathmandu and takes you down the Trishuli River back to Kathmandu or to Pokhara. A bit further afield -- about five hours from Kathmandu -- you’ll find the warmer waters of the Seti River. Multi-day rafting trips cover half a dozen rivers with rapids for nearly any skill level.